Russell Brand’s Arthur Adds More Credible Acting Talent
I hate to say it, but I may be coming around on Russell Brand. For a guy who I found completely annoying and unfunny to move into the levels of tolerable and sometimes humorous is one hell of an accomplishment. I used to hope he might get smothered by Katy Perry’s breasts, and we wouldn’t have to worry about the guy anymore. But, with his performance in GET HIM TO THE GREEK, I think I can watch him for an extended period of time without wanting to punch him dead in the face or stab my eyes with a spork… whichever makes the pain stop faster.
However, if GREEK proved anything, it’s that if you can play to Russell Brand’s strengths and hide his weaknesses, you can come away with a pretty good comedy, and now I’m not hating the idea of an ARTHUR remake so much anymore (previous hatred stated here and here). And, after Warner Bros. managed to lure Academy Award-winning Helen Mirren onto the film, they continue to rack up a strong cast to surround Brand with, in an effort to at least equal the 1981 Dudley Moore picture.
The Hollywood Reporter reports that not-as-attractive-as-you-think Jennifer Garner and Nick Nolte are in discussions about attaching their names to ARTHUR as well.
“Closely hewing to the original, the new ‘Arthur”‘follows a very rich, happy drunk who is told by his mother that he must marry the wealthy girl of her choosing or else lose his inheritance, just as he meets a poor girl (Greta Gerwig) and falls in love… Garner is playing an heiress who carries her own secrets and whom Brand must marry. Nolte is her deeply religious father.”
Nolte was last seen in TROPIC THUNDER as the fake Vietnam vet “Four Leaf” in a role that easily gets overlooked for how good it is when you have the great performances of Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise getting all the glory. Before that, there hasn’t been much notable for Nolte, unless you want to count his role as Bruce Banner’s dad complete with Hulk dogs in Ang Lee’s take on HULK. But CAPE FEAR, 48 HOURS and TEACHERS all show Nolte at his best, so it’s no stretch to think that he really has something to add to the ARTHUR remake. Shit… I even enjoyed the hell out of him in THREE FUGITIVES and BLUE CHIPS.
As for Jennifer Garner, other than a minor role in JUNO, it’s been one disaster after another from DAREDEVIL to 13 GOING ON 30 to ELEKTRA to CATCH AND RELEASE to GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST. Even ALIAS, which had J.J. Abrams behind it, got cancelled, because no one was still watching. I guess that’s what happens to your career when you let Ben Affleck put his penis in you… which is why Matt Damon is still doing remarkably well.
In a more telling note though, it took me a good 10 minutes just to find a picture of Jennifer Garner that was moderately attractive enough to headline this story. It shouldn’t be that difficult.
So, through all of that, with Mirren and Nolte on-board, ARTHUR just got a bit more credible. With Garner on-board, ARTHUR got a bit more unattractive.
It can’t be a good sign when The Kidd would rather have sex with Helen Mirren than you.
